SDP AND HSLS SIGN AGREEMENT ON FORMING COALITION

SPLIT, Aug 6 (Hina) - The Social-Democratic Party (SDP) and the Croatian Social-Liberal Party (HSLS) signed an agreement on forming a coalition for the upcoming elections for the House of Representatives, in Split on Friday. #L# The agreement is based on the presumption that the election law will determine 10 constituencies. The SDP will participate in the party lists with two thirds of all candidates, whereas the remaining third will be HSLS candidates. The leaders of both parties said they had not cooperated nor did they intend to cooperate with the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). When asked how he would solve the problem of party cooperation in Zadar and Sibenik, where the local HSLS is said to cooperate with the HDZ, Budisa said it only looked like a 'close cooperation' but was not and the question would be solved. The agreement also reads that the purpose of the SDP-HSLS coalition, assisted by other members of the 'Opposition Six', is the change of authority and overcoming the current 'economic, social and political crisis'. The parties will form a joint coordination body which will include representatives from the two parties' election headquarters, which will then give instructions to election headquarters coordination bodies on the local level. The agreement obliges the two parties to respect their commitments toward some regional parties. The SDP and the HSLS have also committed themselves to adopting a party programme within 15 days from the vote on the election legislation. Budisa said the cooperation between the two parties had been initiated in Split a year ago. The public has been expecting the latest move, Budisa said, adding the research of the International Republican Institute showed that the two parties could together win about 37 per cent of the vote. Problems do exist between the two parties, but they are solved democratically and through consensus, he added. Asked why the SDP had much more candidates on joint lists, Budisa said research had shown the ratio corresponded with the support each of the two parties enjoyed among the electorate. SDP's Racan expressed satisfaction with the agreement, adding the two parties had demonstrated a high level of conscience regarding the need for cooperation, but also a high level of responsibility in solving the numerous problems in Croatian society. The cooperation between the SDP and the HSLS is necessary because the current authorities are demonstrating a "worrying level of incompetence". Racan assessed that the cooperation between the two parties would yield exceptionally good results. (hina) rml